The theme of restraint in Dhamma practice helps keep energy collected rather than running out. This moderating of saṇkhārā is how one begins to turn away from the aggregates, from the assumptions and habitual grasping that cause suffering. A more flexible and beautiful state becomes available to meet what arises.
Exploring the experience of transitioning between postures, notice the space and what arises within it. What counts is not what arises but how your awareness responds without resisting, contracting or adopting.
Embarrassing and unwanted moods and perceptions can arise and pass through space. They don’t get stuck by the reactions of the personality. We practice to sense space around the body so that we can eventually generate space around mental content.
The unawakened citta always reacts and tries to interpret what’s happening. Rather than interpret experience, notice the stress building up. Hover over the difficult feeling and equanimity, compassion, goodwill gradually comes in.
The reclining posture uses the entire length of the body to establish firmness. Open the front of the body to the space around, like a blanket of goodwill covering the body.
Working with feeling foggy in meditation; firmness and openness in walking meditation; relationship between emotions and bodily tension; working with doubt; releasing energy through hands, feet and head; cultivating generosity triggers constriction.
